Automatic friction clutch



R. F. SETTLAGE.

AUTOMATIC FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPucATloN FILED MAR 22. 1920.

Lgl Patented Dec. T2, T1922,

' T QZ/6122701 f? figli/d e '4 Mw Ind llatentetl l2,

nl r:

RUBULEEE F. SETTLAGIE, 0F S'Il. LUIS, fSSQlllltll.

A'UTMATEC FRICTIUN LUTH.

application ined March 222,11920., Serial ."rl'o. 337,736.

same, reference being had to the accom-` panying drawings, forming part' of this speciiication.

My invention relates generally to devices for the transmission ot power and motion, and more articularly to a clutch for establishing a riving lconnection` between driving and driven elements such as shafts, the principal object of my invention being to provide a relatively simple and efficient .automatically operating friction clutch which, by `virtue of its relatively simple construction and positive action, may be advantageously employed in various structures wherein it is desired to employ a self-action driving `connection between the shaft ot a motor or engine and the driven shaft orv rotating machine element.

A further object ot my invention is to provide a clutch which will automatically act to release the power or driving shaft in the event that the driven shaft or the machine associated therewith becomes 'overloaded and there is consequent danger of injury to some lpart of the driving motor or engine.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accomy panying drawings, in 'which-t Figure 1 is an elevational view of a motor and showing my improved clutch `arranged between the shaft ot the motor and the shaft that is to bev driven.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section talren approximately on the line li--fl of Figure 1 with parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of parts of my improved clutch in disengaged positions.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of parts of the clutch and showing the saine in en-A gaged positions.,

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross section taken. approximatelyon the line 7--7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an elevational view ot a inodiiied form oi' the clutch. Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, -10 designates the driving shaft of anA engine or motor and the shaft 11 that'is to be driven from said shalt 10 through my improved clutch is arranged in direct axial alignment with said drivin shaft 10. Loosely arranged on the end o the driving shaft 10 is a collar 12, and formed integral with or fixed to the inner end thereof is a disk 13.

Removably secured in any suitable man-l ner to collar 12 is a sleeve 1l, the same projecting beyond said collar in order to receive and be connected t0 the adjacent end of driven shaft 11.

Fixed in any suitable manner to driving shaft 10 adjacent to the collar 12 is a collar 15, and formed integral with or fixed to the end thereof that is positioned immediately adjacent to disk 13 is a disk 16 that isA substantially larger in diameter than said disk 13.

A plate 17 which has substantially the same diameter as disk lf is disposed adjacent to the outer face of disk 13,;said plate 17 being provided with a centrally arranged aperture 13 through which passes sleeve la.

Passing through suitable apertures in the disk 16 and plate 17 just outside the periphery ot disk 13 and at diametrically opposite points are pins 19 the outer ends of which are provided with heads 20 which bear against the outer face of plate 17, and loosely arranged upon these pins between the dislr i6 and plate 17 are expansive coil springs 2l.

Portions ot these pins project tions and operate directly against the outer face of disk i6 and their weighted ends are yieldingly held against outward movement by curved springs 24, the inner ends of which are secured in any suitable manner to collar l5.

(ses rig. e.)

lil@

Formed integral with or fixed to the outer face of disk 16 adjacent to each pin 19 is a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 25, the

`outer faces of which are slightly inclined or beveled. These lugs are positioned beneath the outer ends of the Weighted arms 22 and to accommodate and cooperate with said lugs, portions of the outer ends of said arms are Vpressed or stamped outwardly las designated by 26, and the inner faces of said pressed or stamped portions are inclined or beveled to correspond with the outer faces of said lugs 25. (See Fig. 5.)

While disengaged or not in service, the parts of my improved clutch occupy the positions as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the arms 22 being held at their inner limit of movement by the springs 24, and the springs 21 acting to separate the disk 16 and plate 17 and retain the same out of contact with disk 13. When driving shaft 10 reaches a certain speed of rotation, centrifugal forces will cause the weighted arms 22 to swing outward away from each other-and away from shaft 10 which carries disk 16 to which the weighted arms are pivoted, and

. as this action takes place, the inclined inner faces ofthe outwardly bent portions 26 of the arms 22 will bear against the outer faces of lugs 25, and as a result, disk y16 and plate 17. will be drawn toward each other to frictionally engage and clamp intermediate disk 13, and as a result of this frictional engagement, said disk 13'collar 12, and sleeve 14', will be rotated at the same rate of speed as driving shaft 10, and thus shaft 11 that is connected to sleeve 14. will be correspondingly rotated.

As soon as the speed of driving shaft 10 decreases or drops below a predetermined number of revolutions per minute, the springs 24 will act to draw the weighted ends of arms 23 inward, and following this action, springs 21 will act to separate disk 16 and plate 17, thereby disengaging the intermedia-te disk 13 and consequently releasing the clutch.

In the event that driven shaft 11 or the machine associated therewith is overloaded to such an extent as to retard the speed of rotation transmitted to said shaft through the clutch, the retarding actionwill be transmitted through the clutch to the driving shaft 10 of the motor or engine, and following this action the centrifugal arms will swing inward toward each other as a result of the reduced speed, thereby opening or disengaging the clutchwithout working injury to the motor' or engine.

My improved clutch may be used in -connectlon with a driving shaft which operates at a slow speed or at a speed that is insufficient to throw the weighted arms 22 outwardly by centrifugal forceand where the clutch is so employed, the arms 22 are swung 8, and which eccentric is mounted for rocking movement upon the collar 15 or shaft 10.

A clutch of my improved construction is comparatively simple, is capable of being easily and cheaply produced, is positive and eiicient in action, and can be advantageously employed wherever an automatic clutch connection is Vdesired between driving and driven shafts.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved clutch can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal clutch, a driving disk, a plate parallel with said disk and slidably mounted to and from the latter, an arm pivoted at one end on said disk and movable axially of its pivot to and from said disk, means on said disk and arm whereby pivotal movement of the latter willcam said arm from said disk, a connection between said arm and plate, and adriven collar positioned between said disk and late.

2. In a centrifugal c utch, a driving disk, pins supported by and transversely slidable' in said disk, a plate carried by said pins and spaced from said disk, a driven collar having a flange between said disk and plate, arms pivotally mounted, at one end of each, on said disk bysaid pins, weights carried by thef'other end of each of said arms, cam faces on said arms, projections on said disk adapted to cooperate with said cam faces on said arms when the latter are moved pivotally to move said arms axially so as to withdraw said pins and move said plate to grip said flange collar between said plate and disk.

3. In a clutch, a driving disk, a pin slidable in said disk, an arm pivotally supported by said pin between one end of the pm and one side of said disk, a plate carried by said pin between the opposite side of said disk and the other end of said pin, a driven collar having a flange betweenlsaid disk and plate, said arm having near its pivotal end a surface inclined to said disk, projections on said dlsk adapted to be engaged by said inclined surface so that when said arm is moved pivotally, it will draw said pin through said disk and pull said plate toward the latter to clam'p said flange between them, and means lfor pivotally moving said arm.

4. Ina; clutch, a driving disk, a pin slidable in 'said disk, an arm pivotally sup rted by said pin between one end of the p1n and one side 4of said disk, a plate carried by said pm between the opposite side of said disk and the other end of said pin, a. drivenlcollar ifaseia having a flange between said disk and plate, to clam said flange between them, and censad arm havmg near its pivotal end asurtrifugalp means operated by rotation of said face inclined to said disk, projections onsaid disk for pivotally moving said arm. disk adapted to be engaged by saidinclined In testimony whereof hereunto aix my 5 surface so that when saidarm s.moved signature this 18th day of March, 1920.

pivotally, it will draw said pin through said disk and pull .said plate toward the latter RUDOLPH F. SETTLAGE. 

